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    • Live Starlink mission updates from the Cape on Thursday
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    Live Starlink mission updates from the Cape on Thursday

    Harry Posted on

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    Scroll down to check out live updates for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket liftoff from Cape Canaveral for the Starlink 6-68 mission on Thursday, November 14.

    Original story: Expect another Space Coast rocket launch this morning: SpaceX is currently targeting liftoff at 8:21 a.m. EST, about three hours later than first announced.

    Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live broadcast of today’s SpaceX Starlink 6-68 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 40. Following stage separation, Falcon 9 will deploy a payload of 24 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit.

    No sonic booms expected in Central Florida. Instead, after soaring skyward along a southeastward orbit, the first stage booster will aim to land on a SpaceX drone ship at sea.

    The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron forecast called for 85% “go-to-launch” weather during the launch window.

    Rocket photography: FLORIDA TODAY’s 2025 Space Launch Calendar is here

    Update 8:29: The Falcon 9’s first stage booster just completed its 18th mission to SpaceX’s drone ship Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.

    Update 08:21: SpaceX recently launched its payload, which includes the Falcon 9 and 24 Starlink satellites, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    Update 08:16: SpaceX’s launch webcast is now live above, just below our countdown clock.

    Liftoff is scheduled for five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    Update 08:08: This morning’s mission will mark the 18th flight of the Falcon 9’s first stage booster, SpaceX reported.

    The long-serving booster has previously launched mPOWER-C, OneWeb2, Intelsat 40e, Digital Globe 2, Turksat-6A, Eutelsat 36X, Ovzon-3, CRS-26 and nine Starlink missions.

    Following stage separation, the crew waits for the booster to land on the SpaceX unmanned ship Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean at 7 minutes and 49 seconds after liftoff.

    Update at 8am: Here’s a rundown of SpaceX’s upcoming behind-the-scenes countdown timeline ahead of launch. T-minus:

    • 16 minutes: Second stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
    • 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins cooling the engine before launch.
    • 1 minute: The command flight computer begins final pre-launch checks; Pressurization of the propellant tank to flight pressure begins.
    • 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director confirms “go-to” for launch.
    • 3 seconds: The engine controller commands the start of the engine firing sequence.
    • 0 seconds: Departure.

    Update 7:52: SpaceX Falcon 9 refueling procedures finally begin at Launch Complex 40 after an hours-long delay, as evidenced by rising steam.

    This means this morning’s Starlink mission countdown is now locked to start at 8:21am without any delays, otherwise the launch will have to be delayed.

    Update 07:20: Three weeks ago, Starlink officials announced that high-speed internet service was available on a Boeing 777 aircraft for the first time and that Starlink would “soon be available to all passengers” flying with Qatar Airways.

    Update 6:50: This radar loop from the National Weather Service shows waves of cloud cover extending eastward covering Titusville, KSC and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

    However, these clouds are moving offshore.

    Update 6:20: SpaceX has not publicly disclosed the reason for the nearly three-hour delay in today’s launch window. But the 45th Air Squadron’s forecast warned of a low to moderate threat of weak booster rescue air in the Atlantic Ocean – the Just Read the Instructions drone ship is deployed hundreds of kilometers to the southeast.

    The Space Coast shoreline and nearby waters are under a National Weather Service coastal flood warning, high rip current risk warning and small craft advisory.

    “Hazardous boating conditions continue into this morning in local Atlantic waters in seas up to 6 feet,” the NWS hazardous weather report said. The statement was included.

    Update 5:53: SpaceX once again announced that the launch has been postponed. New target time: 8:21

    Although this radar loop from the National Weather Service lacks the detail used by Space Force meteorologists, it indicates that the thick cloud mass moving eastward from the Orlando area may have reached the Merritt Island vicinity quickly enough to disrupt the 5:45 a.m. launch target .

    Update 5:44: SpaceX just announced that the crew is targeting 7:53 a.m. for liftoff. This is 2 hours and 20 minutes after the original target time.

    Update 5:28: Visual cues indicate that the SpaceX crew did not begin fueling the Falcon 9 at Launch Complex 40 for its 5:45 a.m. liftoff.

    The mission remains pending because a new target time has not been announced yet. Backup opportunities are available until 9:33 a.m.

    Update 5am: This National Weather Service radar loop from Melbourne’s Orlando International Airport station shows no significant cloud cover over Cape Canaveral.

    However, radar shows a mass of cloud cover approaching Orlando as it moves eastward.

    Update 4:45: Brevard County Emergency Management officials activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

    Update 4:30: Cumulus clouds and thick cloud layers represent the primary meteorological threats to this morning’s liftoff, the 45th Air Squadron reported.

    The fleet’s forecast also warned of a weak to moderate threat of severe weather in the Atlantic Ocean.

    “A front will approach the spaceport from the north on Thursday, conditions will be drier with only a small chance of showers Thursday morning. High pressure in the northeast and the approaching front will create windy conditions on Thursday, with gusts around 20 mph possible,” the forecast said.

    “Additionally, a layer of mid-level clouds may remain in the region on Thursday morning. This will create the possibility of violations of the Cumulus Cloud Rule and Thick Cloud Layers Rule during the primary launch window,” the forecast said.

    Update 4:14: SpaceX officials postponed this morning’s target launch time to 05:45, which is 12 minutes

    For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit: floridatoday.com/space.

    Rick Neale He is a Space Reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at: [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

    Space is important to us, and that’s why we strive to bring you the best news about the industry and Florida launches. This type of journalism takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

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